My star fish is melting

jason604 · #1 07-15-2014, 02:56 AM

So a few weeks ago I notice there was a small tear on the tip of one of the legs of my starfish. Now I notice it's ripping off n looks like that leg is melting. Everything else of it is fine. Its still moving around like normal. This starfis has been in my tank for 7 months now. Should I remove it or let it play its course?

U can see the left leg melting in my pic.

Craigdillman · #2 07-15-2014, 03:36 AM

My last starfish had the same thing a little damage and it seemed ok but then started melting away and slowly it just died, not sure if there is anything you can do some said try to feed it but I've found if there are like this it's already going down the path

Craigdillman · #3 07-15-2014, 03:37 AM

Id let it run it's course tho cause you never know it could pull through

kien · #4 07-15-2014, 05:01 AM

Starfish have an annoying habit of doing this sort of thing all the time. I have rarely seen them recover but from time to time some do seem to recover.

hfp75 · #5 07-15-2014, 05:16 AM

its dead.... there's actually an unknown phonomenon with starfish dying, google it.

Craigdillman · #6 07-15-2014, 05:52 AM

My last 2 starfish have done this at first I thought I acculamted to quick but I just think they are so sensitive

jason604 · #7 07-15-2014, 08:18 AM

i think what happened was it was stung by my tube anemone when i still had it about 2 months ago and it was slowly SLOWLY showing signs of damage. Anyways i just checked after coming home from work not too long ago and the weak looking leg has completely fallen off. is it gonerzzz for my starfish? i remember when i acclimated a different starfish a few months back its guts started to spill out the next day and it completed messed up my tank n corals were all going downhill... should i toss this guy out b4 that happens again?

whatcaneyedo · #8 07-15-2014, 01:02 PM

Its really common for them to do that after a few months when they've been introduced to a tank with insufficient food. Most of the starfish offered for sale aren't simple herbivores, generally its not understood exactly what it is that they eat. Brittle stars are much more easy to keep long term, they are scavengers that will eat leftover food that your fish miss.

Craigdillman · #9 07-15-2014, 01:59 PM

Yea just watch it if it takes a turn for the worst toss it in the freezer and throw it out (that's the humain way I guess lol )

whatcaneyedo · #10 07-15-2014, 11:12 PM

Or advertise it as Harlequin shrimp food. Less of a waste of life that way.